Vitamin B6

Vitamin B6 is a water soluble vitamin that
is naturally present in many foods.  It is the
generic name for 6 compounds with vitamin
B6 activity: pyridoxine, pyridoxal, pyridoxamine,
pyridoxal 5 phosphate, and pyridoxamine 5
phosphate. 

Vitamin B6 helps the body make several neurotransmitters,
chemicals that carry signals from one nerve cell to another.
It is needed for normal brain development and function,
and helps the body make the hormones serotonin and
norepinephrine, which regulates mood, and melatonin,
which helps regulate the body clock.

The richest sources of vitamin B6 include fish, beef liver
and other organ meats, potatoes and other starchy vegetables,
and fruit.  In the United States, adults obtain most of their
dietary vitamin B6 from fortified cereals, beef, chicken,
and starchy vegetables.